Sunday, May 11, 2014

Baby Love

I know it's been ages since a proper update but many new things have happened on the other side of this blog (aka the real world) which have taken my time and attention. One of them is nine months old and is nicknamed Baby A or Buggy. While searching for a new full-time job, it has been my great pleasure to spend time with this little guy over the last couple of months. He has single-handedly made me fall in love with tiny humans all over again. I'm not one to rave over other people's children but this dude has my heart in his little fist.

Anyone can tell by the curly blonde mop, blueberry eyes, and dimply grin that he is a charmer but it goes beyond that. He is SO GOOD, literally the happiest baby I have ever met. He loves everything that goes on, even what I would assume to be the tiresome parts of being a baby:
"Time for a diaper change? Everybody clap your hands! Nap time? No probalo, sister, I was feeling sleepy anyway. Mashed chickpeas and carrots on the menu? I will fist pump in excitement and make happy grunting noises."

Everything makes him laugh. Everything must be taste-tested: fingers, toys, furniture, Lola's ear (she's a dog). He doesn't even get mad when I take the non-edibles away from him. He just gives me a drooly grin and crawls away to find something new.

The past few months have been frustrating with so much in my personal life up in the air. The days I get to hang out with Buggy are my favorites, though. He is pure sunshine. Every day is a new life discovery and it's incredibly refreshing to be reminded about the simple pleasures that come from just being alive.

Most of us don't remember what it feels like to be unable to move without being picked up and carried. The day he finally figured out how to crawl was the happiest day of his life. If he could talk, he would have been shouting with glee. "I CAN GO LITERALLY ANYWHERE I WANT. THE WORLD IS MY OYSTER AND NOTHING CAN STOP ME. Except this baby gate...but whatever, I'm not even mad! I'M JUST GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE."

He also learned how to wave recently and does it with both hands at every opportunity. He waves at his parents, the dogs, even the ceiling fan when I turn it on. When I grin and wave back, he chuckles like I just learned the secret code he invented.

While I worry and wonder about jobs and relationships and big life things, Baby A is over there going, "I JUST FIGURED OUT HOW TO OPEN AND SHUT A DRAWER, WERE YOU AWARE OF THAT? I THINK I MIGHT BE A WIZARD."

"Hey remember that time ten minutes ago when I sneezed prunes all over myself and you? THAT WAS HILARIOUS, I HAD NO IDEA FOOD ALSO COULD COME OUT OF MY MOUTH AS WELL AS GO IN."

We played peek-a-boo the other day and for him it was the most entertaining game ever in the history of time. "OH MY GOSH DID YOU JUST DISAPPEAR? I FOR REAL THOUGHT YOU LEFT TIME AND SPACE FOR A SECOND WHEN YOUR HANDS WENT UP. AND NOW YOU'RE BACK! THIS IS THE GREATEST THING MY LITTLE EYES HAVE EVER WITNESSED. DO IT AGAIN! DO IT 400 MORE TIMES! I THINK YOU MIGHT BE A WIZARD TOO!!!"

He ends every day completely exhausted, and I go home in a great mood. I seriously think the key to sleeping a solid ten hours every night is being amazed at everything that happens to you in a day. And mentally shouting your reaction.

Thank you so much for being you, Baby A. I've loved our time together. You remind me that there is something good in everything that happens to us. Life is exciting and weird and just like you, I can't wait to see what happens next.